Two of the world’s most evocative names in motorsport – Lewis Hamilton and MV Agusta have joined forces to create a new MV Agusta Dragster LH44 revealed in public today in Milan.

The three-time F1 World Champion drives for Mercedes AMG who also happen to own MV Agusta.

Self-confessed bike nut Lewis Hamilton collaborated with MV Agusta’s designers to create the special edition version of the Dragster RR. "I enjoy riding motorbikes because I feel free," said Hamilton. "I think the first time I fell in love with going fast, my Dad used to come and collect me and take me for the weekend, he would drive fast!" The new MV Agusta Dragster LH44 features a host of carbon-fibre and more than 50 changes to the standard bike to turn it into the LH44. 44 is the number Hamilton runs in F1. It features a red metal opaque frame finish and a white paint scheme featuring Hamilton’s Panther logo. There’s also an Alcantara leather seat with red stitching.

Just 244 bikes will be built.

For 2016, MV’s Brutale 800 gets updated with a new bigger triple exhaust system to meet Euro 4 emissions regulations and a power output of 116bhp. Torque is up by 25 per cent to 61ft-lb of torque. It also has ride-by-wire throttle control and a 8-stage traction-control.

MV Agusta also unveiled a special F3 AMG concept bike at the Milan Show. It features a solar beam yellow finish and is designed to echo the paint scheme of the Mercedes AMG-GT car. There’s also a black AMG logo on both sides and black wheels along with yellow stitching on the seat and a carbon-fibre mudguard. Why it’s just a concept and they don’t just get on with selling some of them beats us.

Other changes to the MV Agusta range include a black engine finish on the 800cc three-cylinder range and a larger 16-litre fuel tank on the Rivale.

All the 2016 MV Agusta models will be available for sale in December with deliveries of the new Brutale 800 in January.